REVIEW: CHILLI CON CARNE, Lion and Unicorn 29-30 June 2024 & at Camden fringe 31 July – 4 August

'The world of Chilli Con Carne is a familiar one: heartache, complicated relationships and unrequited love.'★★★★

Messy Kind's production of Chilli Con Carne by Sarah Vickers takes us on a journey through some of life's most painful experiences to the sound of Thin Lizzy's best song.

Sonia (Tor Lighten) is back in Newcastle after a decade in the capital. Ash (Sarah Vickers) has just buried her mother and this is the last thing she expected. After all, Sonia left suddenly after her father's death ten years ago and never looked back. Until now. And now Ash is angry. She's in shock. And she's engaged to Tom (Charles Maddison).

With Pinter-esque dialogue and more twists than Farrah Fawcett's hair in 1977, the world of Chilli Con Carne is a familiar one: heartache, complicated relationships and unrequited love. Ash and Sonia were in love as teenagers. Until Ash's mother and Sonia's father fell in love themselves and they decided to end things. Fast-forward ten years, and now Sonia and Tom are fighting for Ash's affections. Sonia is pretty sure she's the one Ash wants; after all, they had an all-consuming love and danced to Thin Lizzy's ‘Dancing in the Moonlight’ many, many times. Tom and Ash have been engaged for two years and he knows Ash wants a steady life. And Ash is just confused by it all.

Chilli Con Carne is a a beautiful tale of grief, loss and hope and it breaks your heart in all the right places. Its steady pace lets the story take shape where it needs to, though Ash and Tom's background could probably benefit from a little more background. Nevertheless, the phenomenal performances by the three leads give this love triangle all the angst it needs and deserves. And it's heart-breaking, not least because it all happens so soon after Ash's mother Lisa's death. Lisa's famous chilli con carne makes an appearance or two.

CHILLI CON CARNE, Lion and Unicorn 29-30 June 2024 & at Etcetera Theatre for Camden fringe 31 July – 4 August

Box Office: https://camdenfringe.com/events/chilli-con-carne/

Written by Sarah Vickers

Directed by Hugo Papiernik

Produced by Messy Kind

Reviewer: Carol Saint Martin is a screenwriter, playwright and pop culture blogger. Her TV pilot has been a finalist in many scriptwriting contests, her play HABITAT premiered in 2024 at the Optik Theatre and her film OPEN HELL will be coming out later this year.